Per capita water availability declines

The per-capita water availability in Orissa is reducing progressively owing to increase in pollution and population growth and if the trend continues, a water stress condition is likely to emerge in Rushikulya and Bahuda river basins in Ganjam district and also Budhabalanaga basin in Balasore district.

This has been pointed out by the annual report of 2007-08 of the water resources department of the Orissa government.

Per-capita water availability of less than 1,700 cubic meter (cum) is termed as water stress condition and if the per-capita water availability falls below 1,000 cum, it is termed as "water scarce" condition.

In 2001, the average per-capita water availability (both surface and ground water) in the state was around 3,359 cum per year compared to the national average of 1820 cum, said official sources.

According to the report, with the growth in population, the per-capita water availability in the state would be reduced to 2,218 cum in 2050-51.

"Though the per-capita availability of water resources in Orissa is relatively favorable in the aggregate, the river Rushikulya basin will experience a scarcity condition and other basins like Budhabalanga and Bahuda will be close to scarcity condition by 2051", says the report.

While the total water requirement for all purposes in the state was calculated at 54.99BCM, it would jump to 84.46 BCM in 2050-51,the report stated.

The water requirement would escalate from 1.1996 BCM in 2001 to 3.006 BCM in 2051 for domestic purpose and from 22.688 BCM to 49.408 BCM for the agriculture sector during the period.

Similarly for the industries, the water requirement will increase from 1.750 BCM to 1.950 BCM during the period. For other purposes, the water requirement would rise from 0.20 BCM to 0.40 BCM during the next 50 years, the report stated.

In 2001, the requirement of ground water was 14.486 BCM, while availability of surface water was 40.504 BCM. The projected need of ground water and surface water in 2051 was 20.01 BCM and 64.152 BCM respectively.

A storage capacity of 17.00 BCM has so far been developed through completion of major, medium and minor projects in the state. Besides, the projects under construction would contribute to an additional 1.47 BCM, the report stated.